Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-07-02

trance. so pleased, so bewildered and sad
dened. so fascinated and thoughtful at one
Was not susceptible to women but here was
a veritable siren, an Undine-
His pursuits, his experience, his life, and
his high ideals had tended to make him
truly great. His mammoth body held
giant soul and a sleeping heart Sophls-
try and hattery had fallen UNDECIDED upon
him. and the tide Of public favor and ad-
miration that had flowed across his path,
for he was a successful scientist and author,
mad left him unspoiled. In early manhood
he had buried both father and mother the
latter little less than an angel 20 him. and
five years later his pet sister had faded
slowly away before his eyes, q victim to
that fell destroyer. consumption 1t we'll
nigh broke his heart, and all women We're
tenderiy reVerenced for the sake OF these
dear ones loved so well. His heart over
flowed with the rich mine OF sympathy and
human kindness, and day by day as time
slipped away, this girlish woman entered
deeper into his interest. q will be her
friend, he resolved, aif she Will let me, 2"
for nOthing.in her icy demeanor indicated
that she needed friend
Swiftly the summer hours ghded by,
crowned with the dew OF friendly assoela-
ton and congenial fellowship Leslie
A4E4OGA AANE4 "a lANe-A-A u IL ----N- -
piness, even while no tinge OF warmth or
change ever crept into Miss Darlington g
manner. They talked, read sang together
she seemed in her cold, quiet way to pre-
fer his society, and as he knew her better,
and found her worthy OF his highest reVer-
encs, his purest respect all minor consid-
erations were swept asides she hlled the
void in his life and he placed her veri-
table queen upon the throne OF nus great
idolatry Yes, he at last acknowledged II
to his own heart, he Worshiped her as only
a brave, strong, manly soul TO whom petty
selhshness and narrow conceptions are un-
known, can worship, and creeping 1nsldl-
ously into every fiber OF his being, pulsing
a resistless torrent the desire to win her for
his own grew with his growth and
strengthened with his strength"
How he longed to cherish and protect
her, to teach her that love was a sweet
certainty, and honor no vanished dream Of
chiValric days. Yet while his pleading
heart clamored unanimously, every tense
nerve of his giant self-cOntrol drew him
back under the still coldness that envelOped
her inyulnerable as an armor of ices the
word he sought to say was unuttered-
He was reading
Sc while i 1--we walk upon the verge
OF an iIlpassable and changeless sea-
Which, more than death. divides me, love. nom
To see my Whole LIE standing bleak and bare
wore, as his quick glance sought it, was
more than he could bear. He sprang to
his feet his book fell UNDECIDED.
"Aliss Wilma, don't look 80. Darling,
forgive me. VIII you never hate mankind
less than nOw?"
aNo, Mr.. Murdoch"
The words fell like ice upon his fervent
question; her composure was regained, her
violet eyes met his calmly, infinite scOrn
in them.
aWin nothing, nothing he questioned,
passionately, convince you that truth, that
honor and manhood exist, that love is no
demon to mock and torture, that many men,
great God, that would die for your"
"No, Mr.. Murdoch" she repeated,
mechanically. @Shal we 90 on?"
He looked at her, deep into her fathOm-
less eyes, the hard reply died on his lips, a
humid moisture, for which he did not
blush, gathered in his own tender, honest
eyes, his voice took the tone of pleading
intensity that had won him many a point
in the old law days.
40, Miss Darlington, " he said. gently.
"my little friend, do not so wrong your
splendid wOmanhood. I am willing TO
struggle against my own folly. Worship
ing you as / never expected to
mortal woman. AS well ask a
star to shine on my bosom, but ]
could swear your heart was once warm and
womanliness, your noble intellect, your
purity and goodness. 1 kHOLg 1t was, and
do not ask what turned pulsating, love-
creating, beautiful woman to adamant, stole
her soul. I don't seek to penetrate it. See,
even I, Il man, I idoliZe you with too holy
and pure a passion to peer INTO YOU
secrets, but beg, lmplore, don't hate III
80. Let me be your friend give me tina
place II your me-
Wilma put up her hand family to ward of
the tempest of adoring words as If they
were a blow; for the first time In her life
| flush crossed her face, but she shook he
head.
He stood still an instant in mute wonder
| then, cut to the heart, turned and left her
/ For two or three days he avoided her, bu
| the longing to see her was ever with him
/ the gloom and shadow Of her face haunte,
| him; try as he would he could not hat
| her.
"Firel Fire!" the clang Of bells, tn
/ tramp of feet reused Leslie Murdoch from
! the troubled sleep into which he had fallen
/ Dizzy and confused he CROPPED his wa.
i through binding smoke to ind tn
| ISLAND Home" in flames. Stihed, b.
| fought his way furiously through the Wild
halls, battling half deliriously for tn
/ life he loved, unconscious of the braV
workers on every hand who struggled t
save the terror strickened pleasure-seeker
and this gem Of the seaside, from thu
/ angry Jaws Of the demon.
He only knew that at last. faint an
7 weary, he held the death-like form o
| Wilma Darlington to his heart, her gar
/ ments burned and darkened. One fai
I hand and arm hung useless from her tor
sleeve, from which he had crushed tn
FIRE, as protecting her lovely face and hea
at all hazards he fought his way. A broat
line of scarlet lay pitifully across its mar
bic Wilderness where tongue OF flame ha
touched her. He had broken an arm, hi
hands and face were burned, but he kisse
hungeringly her silent lips, fOrgetfuI o
his pain, and released her, feeling sick an
weak, and knew that Island House" was
smoking ruin, and that gray-haired RaIpl
Darlington bent over him with tears in hi
eyes and called him a hero.
Morning brought the daylight, Whicl
blossomed across the sky as peacefully a
il had ever done, flushed the dancing blu
ocean beyond, and looked wonderingl
| down on the charred and blackened heap
you asked for me2" Leslie AIurdoc
halted on the threshold Of the little vine
grown cottage, whose white snnded foo
glistened coOlly, while the housewife
/ simple song reached them from within
Wilma sat in low wooden rocker IN tn
! porch, white to the lips, her bandaged ar
in her lap.
i want to thank you" she said, simply
You have been so good to me, my life
not worth much, but it was Just as kin
, Of YOU"
Don't" said Mr.. Murdoch seating him
self beside her, and failing to notice thu
her GOODNESS seemed wholly gone. M
friendship you would not have, don
, humble me with the boon of gratitude
saved You because / could not held it"
Now, YOU are unjust" she said, gentl,
, hec solemn eyes meeting his II refuse
your friendship, it is true, but new,
, estimated it lightly; now I am going to az
! cept it, tiff when tell you how BEGAN